“Too Late” is a 12-minute movie produced by Athletics For Education and Success and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association.

It stars several local AFES students.

The premiere at noon drew an audience that included Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich, several Fort Dodge city councilmen, AFES students, and the friends and family of those involved in the short movie’s production.

Charles Clayton, executive director of AFES, was impressed by the response to the movie.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
Shelly Bottorff, executive director of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, gives a speech before the premiere of “Too Late,” a movie the association produced with Athletics For Education and Success. About 60 people attended the premiere.

“The community steps up and helps out, just like how Fort Dodge kind of is.”

He praised the students who were involved in the movie.

“I’m very, very proud of all of them, even the ones that didn’t get on camera. They were still behind the scenes helping with the mike and the cameras the Iowa Central film students brought out. Fantastic job.”

Kia Powell-Hartweg, an instructor in Iowa Central Community College’s TV and radio production program, served as the movie’s director. Her students helped film and edit the movie.

This was a new experience for her.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari
A poster advertising the movie “Too Late” is signed by members of the cast. The movie was a collaborative effort between Athletics For Education and Success and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association.

She enjoyed working with the AFES students. They have been working on the movie since September.

“I don’t think there was one time where we weren’t laughing and having fun,” she said.

Desiree Jones, 11, played Jordan, one of the main characters.

“It was funny and kind of scary,” she said, referring to the final product.

She said her favorite part of production was when they filmed scenes in an unused wing at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Michael Jones, 12, played a doctor and an unnamed child character.

“It was very funny and it was very emotional, kind of,” he said of the movie.

During the initial viewing, the students laughed out loud upon seeing themselves and their friends in the movie.

Shelly Bottorff, executive director of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, was happy with how the movie turned out.

“It was awesome, and that’s what we wanted the end result to be,” she said. “An amazing experience that the kids would be invested in all school year long, so they knew there was something big at the end.”

“Too Late” is just the beginning of a new partnership between AFES and the FDFAA, she said.

“Just the whole project has been amazing, and I look forward to Fort Dodge Fine Arts doing more of this,” she said. “These collaborative projects.”

Michael Shoopman, who helped write the movie, said that while some adults helped the kids out, this project was their own.

“These guys have creativity like you wouldn’t believe,” he said. “Everybody chimed in. Everybody had ideas. It’s all them. All I did was some mechanical work behind the scenes. No big deal. This is their big day.”